Chrysanthemum plant -- Cream Daymark cultivar

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Cream Daymark is provided. The new cultivar was the result of a mutation induced by controlled irradiation with x-rays and can be readily distinguished from the parent Daymark cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,240). More specifically, the new cultivar exhibits attractive light yellow or cream ray and disc florets which can be readily distinguished from the white blossom coloration of the parent cultivar. Also, the new cultivar has been found to exhibit a more compact growth habit with less vegetative growth and to exhibit a lesser plant height than the parent cultivar under the same growing conditions. The new cultivar is particularly suited for use in the production of a cut anemone spray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofDendranthema morifolium Ramat., and hereinafter is referred to by thecultivar name Cream Daymark.

The new cultivar is a mutation which was induced in a plant of theDaymark cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,240) by irradiation with x-raysat a level of 1750 rads. The discovery of the new cultivar was made atDe Lier, The Netherlands, during August, 1985. As discussed hereafter,this discovery resulted in the identification of a single plant of thenew cultivar.

It has been found that the new cultivar of the present invention:

(a) exhibits attractive light yellow ray and disc florets which can bedistinguished from the white blossom coloration of the Daymark cultivar(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,240), and

(b) exhibits a more compact growth habit with less vegetative growth andassumes a lesser plant height than the Daymark cultivar under the samegrowing conditions.

This combination of characteristics is capable of well distinguishingthe new Cream Daymark cultivar from the parent Daymark cultivar and fromall other known Chrysanthemum cultivars.

The new cultivar is particularly suited for use in the production of acut anemone spray.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings, as performed at DeLier, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the characteristics of thenew cultivar as herein disclosed are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual propagation.

Cream Daymark has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light, day length, contact with pesticides and/or subjection to growthretardant treatments.

In my companion application Ser. No. 07/577,696, filed concurrentlyherewith, entitled "Chrysanthemum Plant--Yellow Daymark Cultivar" isclaimed a related cultivar in which the ray and disc florets exhibit adistinctive bright yellow coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, atypical specimen of an overall plant of the new cultivar. The plant wasgrown in a greenhouse at De Lier, The Netherlands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described hereafter isthe R.H.S. Colour chart of the Royal Horticultural Society, London,England. The color values were determined at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 undernatural daylight condition, at De Lier, The Netherlands.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema morifolium Ramat., cv. Cream Daymark.

Commercial.--Cut anemone spray.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Anemone.

Diameter across face.--Approximately 70 mm. on average.

Diameter across disc.--Approximately 26 mm. on average.

B. Corolla of ray and disc florets:

Color(General tonality from a distance of one meter).--Light yellow.

Color ray (top surface).--Approximates Yellow Group 5D.

Color ray (under surface).--Approximates Yellow Group 5D.

Color (disc).--Yellow-Green Group 145A changing to Yellow Group 4C.

Number of ray florets.--Approximately 30 on average.

Number of ray florets.--approximately 130 to 140 on average.

C. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present in disc florets; numerous.

Gynoecium.--Present in both disc and ray florets; numerous.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Approximately 80 cm. on average.

B. Foliage

Color (upper surface).--Yellow-Green Group 147A.

Leaf size.--Approximately 120×90 mm. on average.

Branching laterals.--Approximately 20 on average.

C. Response time:

The response time is approximately 8 weeks.

The plants of the new Cream Daymark cultivar can be distinguished fromthe parent Daymark cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,240) as well as itssister Yellow Daymark cultivar (Ser. No. 577,696, filed Sep. 5, 1990),both with respect to blossom coloration and other characteristics. Thefollowing data was obtained during November 1991 by a comparison ofplants of the Daymark, Cream Daymark, and Yellow Daymark cultivarsgrowing in a nursery at De Lier, The Netherlands.

    ______________________________________                                                         CREAM       YELLOW                                                  DAYMARK   DAYMARK     DAYMARK                                                 Cultivar  Cultivar    Cultivar                                         ______________________________________                                        Ray Floret                                                                             White Group Yellow Group                                                                              Yellow Group                                 Coloration                                                                             155D        5D          3B                                           Disc Floret                                                                            Yellow-Green                                                                              Yellow-Green                                                                              Yellow-Green                                 Coloration                                                                             Group 145D  Group 145A  Group 154C                                            changing to changing to changing to                                           White Group Yellow Group                                                                              Yellow Group                                          155A        4C          6C                                           Plant Height                                                                           85-90 cm.   80 cm.      80-85 cm.                                    at Harvest                                                                    Stage                                                                         Number of                                                                              25          30          34                                           Ray Forets                                                                    (on average)                                                                  Number of                                                                              110-120     130-140     140-150                                      Disc Florets                                                                  (on average)                                                                  Flower   75 mm.      70 mm.      70 mm.                                       Diameter                                                                      Disc     22 mm.      26 mm.      26 mm.                                       Diameter                                                                      Number of                                                                              18          20          16                                           Laterals                                                                      (average)                                                                     Typical Leaf                                                                           110 × 80 mm.                                                                        120 × 90 mm.                                                                        120 × 80 mm.                           Size                                                                          Foliage  Yellow-Green                                                                              Yellow-Green                                                                              Yellow-Green                                 Coloration                                                                             Group 147A  Group 147A  Group 147A                                   Response 71/2 weeks  8 weeks     8 weeks                                      Time                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

No clear distinctions with respect to petal shape and disease resistancehave been observed to date with respect to the Daymark, Cream Daymarkand Yellow Daymark cultivars.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Cream Daymark, substantially as herein shown and described, which:(a) exhibits attractive light yellow ray and disc florets which can be distinguished from the white blossom coloration of the Daymark cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,240), and (b) exhibits a more compact growth habit with less vegetative growth and assumes a lesser plant height than the Daymark cultivar under the same growing conditions. 